Teat-cup for pneumatic milking apparatus.



' No. 744,189. I 'PATENTED NOV. 17,1903.

- A. GILLIES. 7 THAT CUP FOR PNEUMATIC MILKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Iatented November 17, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

TEAT-CUP FOR PNEUMATIQ MILKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 744,189, dated November17, 1903.

Application filed Tune 17, 1903.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER GILLIES dairyman, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, residing at Terang, in the State of Victoria andCommonwealth of Australia, have invented Improved Means for PulsatingInflatable 'Ieat-Oups of Pneumatic Milking Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic milking apparatus and has beendevised to overcome the necessity of having a pulsator at each milkreceiver or bucket. I am aware that attempts have been made to achievethis object in various ways, but none have yet been found practicable.

According to this invention I utilize the atmospheric pressure at theteat-cup as one of the operating factors in causing pulsations, which inprinciple alone is not new, butwhich in conjunction with an intermittentsuction in the annular space between the flexible lining and rigidcasing of the teat-cup and a continuous suction in the interior chamberthereof constitutes the essence of my invention, which is carried out ashereinafter more particularly described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, whereof-- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan of partof a milking-shed, illustrating the general arrangement; and Fig. 2 isan enlarged vertical section of one of the teat-cups. A

1 represents the lid of the milk receiver or bucket, and 2 the maincontinuous suctionpipe in communication with the receivers by branchpipes 8, while 4 denotes the milktubes leading from the claw or doublebracket 5 to the bucket. The milk-passage of the claw is connected tothe teat-cups by branch pipes 6, Fig. 2, attachedto the ferrule 7 on thebase 8 of the flexible inner lining 9 of each teat-cup. Thus acontinuous suction is maintained in the milk-passage.

The main intermittent suction-pipe 10 has branch pipes 11 attached toelbow-pieces 12 on the lid 1 of the receiver, from whence the tubes 13extend to the claw or double bracket '5, the intermittentsuction-passage of which Serial No. 161,941. (No model.)

space 18 between the inner flexible lining 9 and the said outer rigidcasing 17.

Both main suction-pipes 2 and 10, which may be conveniently secured tothe roof of the cow-shed, are in communication and have a commonvacuum-supply through pipe 19. Any convenient devicemay be employed forintermittently closing and opening a valve 20 in the pipe 10, saiddevice being operated either by the vacuum or external power so long asa steady motion is obtained.

The base of the rigid casing of each teatcup is provided with anautomatic air-inlet valve 21, screwed to a nipple 22 on same andadmitting atmospheric pressure when open to the annular space 18 betweenthe lining 9 and casing 17. The valve 21 is held open in its casing 23,as shown in Fig. 2, by the spring 24.; but when the suction is appliedto the annular space in the teat-cups by opening the Valve 20 in theintermittent suction-pipe 10 the valve 21 is drawn or forced up againsta seating on the end of the nipple 22, thereby closing the apertures 25in the valve-casing 23.

Although only one form of automatic airinlet valve is shown in thedrawings, I do not confine myself to this particular kind, as anysuitable automatic valve will answer the purpose so long as it cuts offthe atmospheric pressure when the intermittent suction is turned on andadmits it when same is cut off.

In operation it will be observed that there is a continuous suction inthe milk-passage a from the base 8 of the inner chamber of the teat-cupsand that there is an intermittent (not pulsating) suction (by the actionof the valve 20) from the annular space 18 between the lining and outerrigid casing. When this intermittent suction is applied, the inner1ining is drawn back from the cows teat and the air-inlet valve 21 isclosed; but on cutting oif this suction by reversing the valve 20' theair-inlet valve 21 opens and atmospheric pressure is admitted in theannular space between the casing and lining, so that the latter isdistended inwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, against theteat, thus simulating, as nearly as possible, the action of the calfsmonth. By this combination pulsations are applied to the teat-cup as thevalve 20 on the intermittent main suction-pipe 10 is operated.

It will be obvious that with the two main suction-pipes in communicationwith a vacuum-supply any number of receivers or buckets may be readilyconnected thereto, and thus many cows may be milked at a time, with thegreat advantage of doing away with pulsating currents in the tubes andthe necessity of a pulsator for each pair of cows, which is in practicefound necessary, as it is practically impossible to carry pulsations anyconsiderable distance.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is- 1. The combination with a teat-cup consisting of arigid casing having a flexible lining, of an automatic air-inlet valveopening my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- 30 ALEXANDERGILLIES.

Witnesses:

EDWARD WATERS, EDWARD WATERS, Jr.

